Key points from article :
Long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked to increased rates of cardiovascular disease, asthma, lung cancer and death.
New research suggests air from rush-hour traffic significantly increased passengers’ blood pressure.
Breathing unfiltered air resulted an increase in blood pressure increases of more than 4.50 mm Hg.
The increase occurred rapidly, peaking about an hour into the drive and holding steady for at least 24 hours.
The size of the increase is comparable to the effect of a high-sodium diet.
Findings also raise questions about ultrafine particles, an unregulated and little-understood pollutant..."
Study led by Joel Kaufman from the University of Washington, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
